The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine the way in which we have planned to provide security and well being to ourselves and our loved ones.
The reading from the Prophet Ezekiel is a proclamation against the King of Tyre.
* [28:1–10] Ezekiel mocks the arrogance of Tyre’s leader, who mistakes the city’s commercial success for evidence of his divinity. At the hands of a foreign army, commissioned by the only God worthy of the name, this leader dies a humiliating, unceremonious death. (Ezekiel, CHAPTER 28, n.d.)
The response from the Book of Deuteronomy describes Israel’s ingratitude and idolatry.
* [32:1–43] The whole song is a poetic sermon, having for its theme the Lord’s benefits to Israel (vv. 1–14) and Israel’s ingratitude and idolatry in turning to the gods of the nations; these sins will be punished by the nations themselves (vv. 15–29); in turn, the foolish pride of the nations will be punished, and the Lord’s honor will be vindicated (vv. 30–43). (Deuteronomy, CHAPTER 32, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches how riches are an obstacle.
* [19:23–24] Riches are an obstacle to entering the kingdom that cannot be overcome by human power. The comparison with the impossibility of a camel’s passing through the eye of a needle should not be mitigated by such suppositions as that the eye of a needle means a low or narrow gate. The kingdom of God: as in Mt 12:28; 21:31, 43 instead of Matthew’s usual kingdom of heaven. (Matthew, CHAPTER 19, n.d.)
Chas Kestermeier, S.J. comments that the disciples are radically puzzled and perturbed! If God does not reward (“bless” us) in these ways, what does God’s love actually mean?
We don’t think that way today, do we? Or do we? We seem to judge God’s love for us by whether we get what we want or not, and we leave that all up to him – or work like the Prodigal Son’s brother and wonder why we don’t feel loved. I believe that even at the best of times we look too much to the gifts of God and not to the Giver, who is himself the only blessing that we should seek. (Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Who can enter the kingdom of heaven?” by John Chrysostom, 347-407 A.D.
"What then did Christ say? 'How difficult it will be for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.' He was not criticizing money itself but the wills of those who are taken captive by it. If it will be difficult for the rich, how much more so for the avaricious! For if stinginess with one's own wealth is an impediment to gaining the kingdom, think how much fire is amassed for taking someone else's. But why does he say that it is hard for the rich man to enter the kingdom, to the disciples, who were poor and had nothing? He teaches them not to be ashamed of their poverty and, as it were, gives the reason why he did not allow them to possess anything. After saying it is hard, he also shows them that it is impossible, and not simply impossible but even in an exaggerated way impossible. He shows this from the comparison of the camel and the needle: 'It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.' Hence Christ demonstrates that there is a significant reward for the wealthy who can practice self-denial. He also said that this had to be the work of God, that he might show that great grace is needed for anyone who is going to achieve it." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 63.2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 19:23-30 comments that maybe we’ve come to feel entitled to whatever privileges may come our way instead of receiving them as gracious gifts. Or we may expect our lives to be free of crosses or burdens and begin to resent them when they appear. Or we look back on our lives and think that things should have worked out better than they did.
If that’s how you feel sometimes, go to the Lord and ask him to change your heart. He can help you see that all the blessings in your life are his gifts to you and that even the crosses can help you draw closer to him. He can also open your eyes to the grace he is pouring out on you right here and right now. Like Peter, that is the grace that will one day bring you face-to-face with your heavenly Father—a reward that is infinitely better than any earthly one!
“Jesus, purify my heart. I put my hope in your grace and mercy.” (Meditation on Matthew 19:23-30, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler fleshes out the taunt song in Ezekiel against the Prince of Tyre and those who are arrogant about their privilege. The Jewish exaggeration often used by Jesus, is displayed either by the low gate of Jerusalem or the passage through the eye of a sewing needle. Friar Jude reminds us that we are not heirs to the “gospel of prosperity” but to the wealth of being entrusted to carry the Cross.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces theologian Diana L. Hayes who describes how Black women in her life rely on God to help carry their suffering. She draws on her upbringing in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, in which seemingly impossible difficulties are sustained with God’s help. Through her own suffering, Hayes has come to understand what the mothers of the Black church meant by “let go and let God”:
Today, as I battle with my own fears and doubts, my own frustrations (about who I am and where I am going) and yearnings for a life free from pain, free from prejudice and discrimination, free from the constant struggle to survive and simply be me, I have come to realize that there are times when life becomes infinitely more tolerable if the burden is shared, with human friends, yes, but even more important, shared with a God who loves and watches over me like a “mother hen brooding over her chicks” [Luke 13:34]. It is that same God who has said, “Behold, while you were in your mother’s womb, I knew you and I named you [Jeremiah 1:5]. How could I love you less now?”
To “let go and let God” is to put yourself into the hands of God, even for just a little while, until the challenges of life are more bearable. . . . It is not a form of “otherworldly” escape, for the pain, the anger, the fears, the frustrations are always, sadly, a part of life, not because God wants it so, but because of our own human failure to make it different. (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek faith to accept the offer of God to sustain our lives in a Way that brings fullness of life in all our circumstances.
References
Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. (n.d.). OnlineMinistries. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/081622.html
Deuteronomy, CHAPTER 32. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/deuteronomy/32?26
Ezekiel, CHAPTER 28. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/28?1
Matthew, CHAPTER 19. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/19?23
Meditation on Matthew 19:23-30. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/08/16/469683/
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/let-go-and-let-god-2022-08-16/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Who Can Enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=aug16
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